I'm on the freeride plus's, great binding overall, but i did break the heel latch at crested butte yesterday.

I'm a bitter pinhead (making the transition to the dark side ASAP actually) but that's not why I don't like them. It's more of an intangible feeling of distrust for them. I'm looking for a pair of Naxos at the moment for my powder skis. If I were forced to go with a Fritschi, it would have to be the FR+.

Why are you making the change? Tired of breakable crust sending you on your face?

FR+ are great, naxo nx21 are good to0...heavier, but good. It really seems to come down to what you prefer. If you want a bomber binding get the marker dukes, but there are other problems with those such as having to click out of your bindings to switch from touring to skiing modes.

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming WOW! WHAT A RIDE."- Hunter S Thompson

iceman wrote:I skied for the first time last weekend and I am hooked. I would like to purchase some AT gear. I am thinking about the Fritsche Explore or Freeride bindings.... $ is an issue but I would like some quality gear.

In the spring of 2004 I got my first AT ski set up at the Gear Exchange there in Glenwood (Atomic skis with 2003 Diamir Freerides) for $230.00.Though I wasnâ€™t to excited about the skis them selves the set up was virtually unused and the bindings alone made the purchase well worth my while. I have since spent more than 80 days in the backcountry on this set up; they have suffered the brunt of my learning curb with out fail. I (like Jordan) however did break a heal latch while skiing bumps at Mary Jane.
I have continued to shop at the Gear Exchange and found there deals on used gear to often be quite good and when I have had any problems with a purchase they have handled things completely professionally. I could not say enough good things about the Gear Exchange of my Freerides.
Enjoy your new adventure,
Ken

I have tried the Dukes already. The only problems I had with them was that they are a little heavier than the Freeride Plus, and that you cannot switch from walk mode to ski mode without taking your skis off first. Besides that, they are totally bombproof and there is no discernable play that I could detect. I'd be confident on anything with those bindings.

Carry an ice axe and a clear mentality; they can both save your life.I get acute mountain sickness when I am away from the mountains.

I did find the carry the extra ice axe to hit snowboarders rather funny though!

Remember, "half the binding, twice the skill"

On my first take-off, I hit second gear and went through the speed limit on a two-lane blacktop highway full of ranch traffic. By the time I went up to third, I was going 75 and the tach was barely above 4000 rpm.... And that's when the Ducati got its second wind. From 4000 to 6000 in third will take you from 75 mph to 95 in two seconds - and after that, Bubba, you still have fourth, fifth, and sixth. Ho, ho. ~Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature